“Lookman is an innocent bystander” — Stephen Nicol questions Gasperini’s remarks

By Monsurah Olatunji

Former Liverpool and Scotland defender Stephen Nicol has come to the defense of Nigerian forward Ademola Lookman amid the ongoing feud between the player and Atalanta head coach Gian Piero Gasperini.

Lookman made an impressive comeback in the second leg of Atalanta’s UEFA Champions League clash against Club Brugge, scoring within 35 seconds of his introduction, setting a record for the fastest-ever second-half substitute goal in the competition.

However, shortly after, Lookman missed a crucial penalty that led to him being blamed for the team’s exit from the tournament on a 5-2 aggregate scoreline.

In his post-match comments, Gasperini did not hold back, labeling Lookman the “worst penalty taker” he had ever seen.

Lookman, in turn, expressed his disappointment on social media, calling the remarks “deeply disrespectful” and “personally hurtful.”

Nicol, who now works as a pundit for ESPN, shared his views on the controversy, siding with Lookman and suggesting that Gasperini’s criticism was misplaced.

He argued that the Nigerian international was merely following instructions and should not be the one to take the blame.

“Lookman is actually an innocent bystander here,” Nicol said during an ESPN UK segment.

“It’s the guy who was supposed to take it (De Ketelaere) and the captain on the field (Tolói) that needed questioning.”

Nicol went on to explain that if he were the coach, his first point of contact would have been De Ketelaere, who was designated as the penalty taker, and the captain, Tolói, for not following the coach’s instructions.

“If I’m the coach, he’s my first port of call, ‘Why are you not taking the penalty? I’ve told you you’re the penalty taker,” he continued.

The second port of call is the captain; you’re the captain for a reason, so on the field, when I can’t get anybody’s ear, then you follow my instructions,” Nicol said.

The former Liverpool defender concluded that Lookman, who stepped up to take the penalty after De Ketelaere did not, was the one who acted in good faith and should not be blamed for the penalty miss.

“Quite honestly, the only person who is innocent to me is Lookman himself because if the guy who’s meant to take it doesn’t take it, somebody else has to take it, so Lookman said I’ll take it.”

Nicol also criticized Gasperini, stating that the coach should have intervened earlier to ensure that the correct player took the penalty, highlighting his responsibility in such moments.

“I never saw the game, but with the amount of time Gasperini should have done something because you’re 100 per cent looking to make sure as a coach that the right guy is taking it,” Nicol concluded.